I haven't read anything by him before, but I downloaded a sample of his latest from amazon as I thought the premise was interesting, and was pretty quickly hooked. Bought it. Engaging writing style. Lots of interesting data. Compelling.

Pinker is great and probably right for the most part, though a review I read said he kind of glosses over Christianity's role in declining violence, i.e. the modern lack of violence is entirely due to Enlightenment values, even though there was an appreciable decline already in the early Middle Ages.

Your "Enlightenment" was delivered to you by the Muslims, not Christians.

Historically speaking, I can get behind this assertion. They conquered many ancient civilizations - the Romans, Indians, and Persians being the most important - and adopted their knowledge and then disseminated it to any other civilizations they conquered or warred with. Islam has bloody borders, but bloodshed is the most effective transfer of knowledge.

They just didn't "disseminate it" they conducted thoughtful research and expanded on known knowledge and methods and blazed new roads in what would be the end of the trivium of Scholasticism all the while perfecting it.

If you will, you can become all flame.Extra caritatem nulla salus.In order to become whole, take the "I" out of "holiness". सर्वभूतहितἌνω σχῶμεν τὰς καρδίας"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." -- Mohandas GandhiY dduw bo'r diolch.

The Fort by Bernard Cornwell, author of the Sharpe Series. It's about the Revolutionary War up in Maine (then part of Massachusetts). One character is a rebel and another is British (referred to as "Devils" in the book). Should get a good view of both sides which is kind of interesting. Looks like Paul Revere is going to play a role in the story. He's an interesting character but all most people know about is the "the British are coming, the British are coming!" bit.

Basically, it studies WWI and how it produced the essential acceptance of mass killing and violence that it produced on a cultural level. It also discusses how the results of this war created an environment that allowed for the rise of communism, fascism, and Nazism.

Logged

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." --Bertrand Russell

Basically, it studies WWI and how it produced the essential acceptance of mass killing and violence that it produced on a cultural level. It also discusses how the results of this war created an environment that allowed for the rise of communism, fascism, and Nazism.

Interesting. I'd say that mass killing and violence were nothing new to European culture before World War I. However what is clearly different, is the mechanization of war and violence, which makes it methodical, robotic, and menial. Europeans had always been accustomed to people dying in large numbers. After all, why in part were the Spanish and English so comfortable with witnessing the suffering of the Indians from disease in the Americas? Simple answer, disease at that pandemic scale had already been affecting Europe for hundreds, indeed a thousand years before that, in a crass kind of way both emotionally and even theologically the European mind had become desensitized to the suffering of disease. Now the Civil War and later WWI were different entirely. People died in their tens of thousands daily, by the work of machines, by the work of logistical planning, by the use of technology. Death became a statistic because to machines that's all we are.

Today we have M.A.D, mutually assured destruction, which supposedly cross-cancels mutual threats. Weirdly, the Russians just last week threatened the potential for a preemptive nuclear strike against US cities in retaliation for the European Missile Defense system. Lives become 1s and 0s. But doesn't Facebook do the same thing?

stay blessed,habte selassie

Logged

"Yet stand aloof from stupid questionings and geneologies and strifes and fightings about law, for they are without benefit and vain." Titus 3:10

Today we have M.A.D, mutually assured destruction, which supposedly cross-cancels mutual threats. Weirdly, the Russians just last week threatened the potential for a preemptive nuclear strike against US cities in retaliation for the European Missile Defense system. Lives become 1s and 0s. But doesn't Facebook do the same thing?

Basically, it studies WWI and how it produced the essential acceptance of mass killing and violence that it produced on a cultural level. It also discusses how the results of this war created an environment that allowed for the rise of communism, fascism, and Nazism.

Interesting. I'd say that mass killing and violence were nothing new to European culture before World War I. However what is clearly different, is the mechanization of war and violence, which makes it methodical, robotic, and menial. Europeans had always been accustomed to people dying in large numbers. After all, why in part were the Spanish and English so comfortable with witnessing the suffering of the Indians from disease in the Americas? Simple answer, disease at that pandemic scale had already been affecting Europe for hundreds, indeed a thousand years before that, in a crass kind of way both emotionally and even theologically the European mind had become desensitized to the suffering of disease. Now the Civil War and later WWI were different entirely. People died in their tens of thousands daily, by the work of machines, by the work of logistical planning, by the use of technology. Death became a statistic because to machines that's all we are.

Today we have M.A.D, mutually assured destruction, which supposedly cross-cancels mutual threats. Weirdly, the Russians just last week threatened the potential for a preemptive nuclear strike against US cities in retaliation for the European Missile Defense system. Lives become 1s and 0s. But doesn't Facebook do the same thing?

stay blessed,habte selassie

Mass killing is nothing new anywhere, but what set WWI and history since then apart is that now it's viewed as a more or less a product of certain policies. It could be unintended, such as an ill-conceived war, or intended, such as the Holocaust, the gulags, Mao, even the acceptance of abortion on demand. We are fulfilling that quote Stalin supposedly said: "One death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic."

Logged

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." --Bertrand Russell

I'm currently reading Herman Wouk's The Winds Of War, I'm also starting on The Hunger Games. In a few moments I'm going to read the local newspaper over lunch, that tells you how reduced our daily here in Indy has become.

On the Human Condition, by St. Basil the Great (trans. and intro by Nonna Verna Harrison). A collection of several texts by St. Basil on... well... the human condition The texts included are:

- On the Origin of Humanity, Discourse 1: On that which is according to the image- On the Origin of Humanity, Discourse 2: On the human being- Homily Explaining That God is Not the Cause of Evil- Homily against Anger- Homily on the Words "Be Attentive to Yourself"- Letter 233, to Bishop Amphilochius, Who Has Asked a Question- Long Rules, Selections

I love my Kindle, but now I have too many irons in the fire. I like to read one book at a time, but now I've found myself reading three or four books at once. Not used to that. Currently I'm reading:

The Bystander: John F. Kennedy and the Struggle For Black Equality by Nick Bryant

Good read so far. Exposing the cynical nature of JFK and revealing him to be much less than the champion of Civil Rights that he is proclaimed to be. But objectively written.

In God We Don't Trust by David Bercot

Also very good so far, shattering the prevalent myth that the foundational actions and policies of the United States were the result of true faith in God.

Shakey: Neil Young's Biography by Jimmy McDonough

As a Neil young fan, this book is enjoyable and informative. However, as much as I like Neil Young, I'm not sure he warrants 800 pages.

Soul Sacrifice: The Santana Story by Simon Leng

A very good book that really focuses on Santana's music rather than the typical rock star gossip.

Selam

Logged

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

The Grammatically Correct Handbook: A Lively and Unorthodox Review of Common English for the Linguistically Challenged, by Ellie Grossman. Mostly just basic stuff (latter vs. later, either/or vs. neither/nor, etc.)

The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God, by Carl Sagan (ed. by Ann Druyan). Still too early in the book to comment much (though I think I may have read this before... hmm...) It has given me time to reflect on why some didn't like him, though (or popularizers in general).

The Bystander: John F. Kennedy and the Struggle For Black Equality by Nick Bryant

Good read so far. Exposing the cynical nature of JFK and revealing him to be much less than the champion of Civil Rights that he is proclaimed to be. But objectively written.

Any good? Kennedy's involvement in both initially bolstering and yet at the same time absolutely thwarting the Civil Right's Movement should make some interesting reading. Kennedy is a complicated figure who like Lincoln has become highly romanticised. The reality is that Kennedy was ever the politician, and was politically afraid to step up to the racist structure of the Democratic Party of his time, and also to challenge the war machine in Vietnam which he was hoping to prevent. As an individual, Kennedy supported both Civil Rights and avoiding the Vietnam War, but his policies didn't get to reflect those realities. Kenney was a shrewd politician, and the underlying flaw of democracy is that sometimes a majority of people want injustice. That is when we need monarchy or at least some good but idealistic caudillo to shake things up out of principal. Of course conversely, our pseudo-democracy forces Americans to actually and systematically change the super structure from the bottom up, which is equally beneficial in the long run, but just takes all the more time and effort.

stay blessed,habte selassie

Logged

"Yet stand aloof from stupid questionings and geneologies and strifes and fightings about law, for they are without benefit and vain." Titus 3:10

The Bystander: John F. Kennedy and the Struggle For Black Equality by Nick Bryant

Good read so far. Exposing the cynical nature of JFK and revealing him to be much less than the champion of Civil Rights that he is proclaimed to be. But objectively written.

Any good? Kennedy's involvement in both initially bolstering and yet at the same time absolutely thwarting the Civil Right's Movement should make some interesting reading. Kennedy is a complicated figure who like Lincoln has become highly romanticised. The reality is that Kennedy was ever the politician, and was politically afraid to step up to the racist structure of the Democratic Party of his time, and also to challenge the war machine in Vietnam which he was hoping to prevent. As an individual, Kennedy supported both Civil Rights and avoiding the Vietnam War, but his policies didn't get to reflect those realities. Kenney was a shrewd politician, and the underlying flaw of democracy is that sometimes a majority of people want injustice. That is when we need monarchy or at least some good but idealistic caudillo to shake things up out of principal. Of course conversely, our pseudo-democracy forces Americans to actually and systematically change the super structure from the bottom up, which is equally beneficial in the long run, but just takes all the more time and effort.

stay blessed,habte selassie

Yes bredren, it's fascinating so far. I couldn't resist jumping ahead to the chapter "Go Mississippi" which gives a detailed chronology of Kennedy's chess match with racist Mississippi governor Ross Barnett. Interestingly and surprisingly, it reveals that Kennedy was not nearly as shrewd of a politician as he's made out to be either (of course, I think Castro proved that). He caved into Ross Barnett way more than he should have, and lives were lost because of it. (And to Mississippi's shame, the Jackson reservoir still bears Ross Barnett's name. We did change the name of the ariport to Jackson/Evers Airport, which was great, but it's disgraceful that the reservoir is still called "The Ross Barnett Reservoir.")

Selam

Logged

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

A History of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, by Karen Armstrong

She's a good writer. I've read her book on Islam and also her autobiography.

Selam

Logged

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

Seriously if I hear someone say 50 Shades of Grey is a good book I'm going to strangle them.

Devil book from what I hear.

Selam

Logged

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

A History of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, by Karen Armstrong

Save yourself the time. Guess when you have plenty though, what does it matter?

She is terrible.

She is not an Orthodox Christian, and she is certainly way too ecumenical and too liberal for my tastes. However, if you know this going in then you can still gain a lot from her. She is very knowledgable about religion and she is an excellent writer in my opinion.

Selam

Logged

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

A History of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, by Karen Armstrong

Save yourself the time. Guess when you have plenty though, what does it matter?

She is terrible.

She is not an Orthodox Christian, and she is certainly way too ecumenical and too liberal for my tastes. However, if you know this going in then you can still gain a lot from her. She is very knowledgable about religion and she is an excellent writer in my opinion.

Selam

I read a book of hers while waiting for a woman to get ready to go out, before I cared about Orthodoxy Christianity or being involved in anything "religious". While offering much laughter, it was terribly written.

It was a helpful exercise, as I was able to quickly gauge the woman's intellectual capacity and propensity to the worst sorta liberalism, when she explained to me how interesting and "informative" the text was and how she came to better understand "religious people" especially Christians.

The problem is not the ecumenicism. Aside from the writing, she belongs in the heap of trash of x studies, in this case religious studies, which doesn't properly understand its own history of thought, necessarily "Western", then attempts to reduce everything else in the world to its own uncritical understanding of its own metaphysics.

No thanks.

[/rant]

But as they say:

Which actually is just another installment in the patronizing toward the Black Man long series of tales of Whitey Knows Best.

A History of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, by Karen Armstrong

Save yourself the time. Guess when you have plenty though, what does it matter?

She is terrible.

She is not an Orthodox Christian, and she is certainly way too ecumenical and too liberal for my tastes. However, if you know this going in then you can still gain a lot from her. She is very knowledgable about religion and she is an excellent writer in my opinion.

Selam

I read a book of hers while waiting for a woman to get ready to go out, before I cared about Orthodoxy Christianity or being involved in anything "religious". While offering much laughter, it was terribly written.

It was a helpful exercise, as I was able to quickly gauge the woman's intellectual capacity and propensity to the worst sorta liberalism, when she explained to me how interesting and "informative" the text was and how she came to better understand "religious people" especially Christians.

The problem is not the ecumenicism. Aside from the writing, she belongs in the heap of trash of x studies, in this case religious studies, which doesn't properly understand its own history of thought, necessarily "Western", then attempts to reduce everything else in the world to its own uncritical understanding of its own metaphysics.

No thanks.

[/rant]

But as they say:

Which actually is just another installment in the patronizing toward the Black Man long series of tales of Whitey Knows Best.

Like I said, I've only read two of her books. One on Islam and the other was her autobiogrpahy "The Spiral Staircase." I found her writing highly readable and very informative. But then again, I am a simple man who likes to understand what I read the first time without having to read the same paragraph again and again to discern it's meaning (like I had to do with your post above. )

Selam

Logged

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx